Whitby Collegiate News, Week 11, Term 2

Week 11, Term 2 | 2026

Executive Principal’s Update

Kia ora, Talofa, Bula vinaka, Malo e lelei, Fakatālofa atu kia te koulua, Kia orana, Hallo, Hola, Ni Hao, Namaste and Greetings - parents, caregivers and families of Whitby Collegiate,

As we reach the end of a very busy but rewarding term, it is a fitting time to reflect on the many opportunities, achievements and experiences that have enriched learning both inside and outside the classroom. This week has been a wonderful example of the breadth of school life, with students engaging in meaningful educational experiences, celebrating success, serving others and embracing our community values.

Experiential learning took centre stage this week as our Year 10 Social Science students headed into Wellington’s CBD for a valuable day of learning beyond the classroom. Their programme included visits to He Tohu, home to New Zealand’s founding documents, the National Library, and Parliament. A particular highlight was the opportunity to meet with Minister of Education and Immigration, Erica Stanford, who welcomed students into her office to answer questions and share insights into public service and political leadership. Experiences such as these bring learning to life and help students make meaningful connections between their studies and the wider world. Thank you to Mr Tinney for making all this happen and Mrs Mitchell and Mrs Patel for their support.

Back at school, excitement was in abundance as our senior students hosted the annual Big Bonanza for the junior school. The event showcased outstanding leadership, creativity and service, with a wide range of activities that kept students engaged throughout the evening. The enthusiasm and care demonstrated by our senior students were evident in every aspect of the event, creating an atmosphere filled with fun, laughter and school spirit.

One of the standout moments of the week was our Scholars Assembly, where we welcomed families into the school to celebrate academic excellence, perseverance and achievement. Scholars badges were awarded for NCEA academic achievement, along with looking forward to those who are part of the scholarship programme for 2026. We were delighted to welcome back members of our 2025 graduating class to receive their awards, many of whom took time out from their university studies to be with us. A special highlight was an address from former Head Boy Cassidy Abbot, now in his final year at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. Cassidy’s reflections on his journey since leaving school provided a powerful reminder of the values, resilience and aspirations that underpin our community.

We were also privileged to hear from Jess Jenkins, sister of Year 10 student Jack. Jess shared her remarkable journey from growing up in Porirua to graduating this year from Harvard University as one of its top-performing students. Her message about embracing opportunities, working hard and believing in your potential was both inspiring and deeply motivating for students and families alike.

The final days of term were beautifully capped off with our Matariki celebration and noho (overnight stay) at school. Year 13 student leader Lina Aiono Te Tau guided her classmates and staff through the significance of Matariki with stories, waiata, quizzes and kai, concluding in a dawn celebration this morning, with heartfelt karakia and blessings for the new year and encouragement to look forward with hope, gratitude and purpose. Thank you to Lina for her inspiration and leadership and to Mr Wilson, Ms Kale, Ms Newlands and Mr Tinney who supported the students all through the event. A special thanks to all the staff who were part of the dawn ceremony in a very meaningful way.

As the final week of winter sport draws to a close, there is much to celebrate. Congratulations to our Senior A Netball team, which secured two impressive victories this week across both inter-school and club competitions. These results reflect the team's commitment, hard work and growing cohesion throughout the season. We also look forward to seeing our senior basketball teams take to the court tonight and to a full schedule of netball fixtures across the weekend before all teams enjoy a well-deserved break over the holidays. A very big thank you to all the coaches, managers and parent supporters who all ensure that our students are able to participate to the best of their abilities.

Finally families will receive students' mid-year reports today. These reports provide an important opportunity to acknowledge progress, celebrate successes and identify goals for the second half of the year.

Thank you to our students, staff and whānau for your ongoing commitment, support and contribution throughout what has been an exceptionally busy and successful term. We wish everyone a safe, restful and refreshing holiday break and look forward to welcoming students back next term, ready for another exciting chapter of learning and growth.

Ngā mihi nui,

Shelley Addison
Executive Principal

Deputies’ Updates

Deputy Principal (Academics)

Kia ora e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,

It has been a very busy and exciting week to wrap up an amazing Term 2 at Whitby Collegiate. On Wednesday I had the chance to accompany Mr Tinney and the 10TG Social Sciences class to Wellington City. In addition to the students completing a scavenger hunt on Cuba Street, we also had a tour of Parliament and sat in the public gallery during Question Time. It was an honour to also meet Hon Erica Stanford, Minister of Education, and Immigration, an opportunity made possible by Kara Isaac, mum to Judah, a Year 10 student.

On Thursday we held our annual Scholars’ Assembly, where we recognised our top NCEA scholars from the previous academic year. It was wonderful to welcome so many parents and grandparents to this special occasion, and I reiterate my sentiments that success is seldom a solo journey. Thank you to teachers and whānau for the ongoing support and guidance provided to our students. We were privileged to have three wonderful performances: Decanta Laudem, accompanied by Zayn and conducted by Ella Reuelu, beautifully sang Karanga Karanga; on the piano, Chloe Shi performed The Lark by Glinka; and we heard, for the first time, The Funk Band. Consisting of Johnny Naisbitt, Hamish Wood, Sidney Jones, Flynn Maxwell, and Zayn, it was a stellar performance of You & Me by Jordan Rakei.

We welcomed back alumnus 2021 Deputy Head Boy Cassidy Abbot as our Keynote Speaker. As it always is, it was an honour and a real treat to hear Cassidy speak; he is a gifted orator. I loved the reflection Cassidy shared with us, how Whitby Collegiate helped shape him into the young man that he is today. Cassidy is a noted academic, appearing many times on the Victoria University of Wellington Dean’s List for Academic Excellence, and currently finishing his Honours in Classics this year, after touring Europe for the past year.

Here are some words from Cassidy: “It’s strange to think about alternative histories; if all of the factors to save the school hadn’t lined up, or if everyone who built the amazing place Whitby Collegiate has clearly become today had given up, we wouldn’t be here today. This gym wouldn’t be here, you would all be at various other Wellington schools, and goodness only knows where I’d be, because I wouldn’t have become the man I now am without this school.”

Our Special Guest Speaker was Jess Jenkins. A Porirua local, and elder sister to Year 10 student Jack, Jess has just graduated from Harvard University. We were lucky to have Jess share how and why she went to Harvard. Jess studied Economics, and Folklore and Mythology, where she combined both quantitative and qualitative ideas, often focussing on Māori cultural systems. We wish Jess all the best as she begins her career in New York.

I would like to share Jess’ final words at our assembly yesterday: “The opportunities are there. Some are disguised as advertisements. Some are hidden in competitions you're certain you won't win. Some look like doors that were built for someone else. Swipe up anyway. Apply regardless. Put the case out and play. You might be surprised at who stops and listens.”

Both of our speakers were inspirational, and spoke words of wisdom that truly resonated with our student body, our guests, and with our staff. Thank you Cassidy and Jess for taking the time to speak at our Scholars’ Assembly. My gratitude also goes out to the Parents’ Association, especially Anna Lawson, Sharon Duckett, Sue Payne, and Alison Heath, for the wonderful afternoon tea they prepared for us to share following our special assembly.

This morning I rose early to attend the Hautapu Matariki ceremony at school, wonderfully organised by Year 13 student Lina Aiona Te Tau. Around the fire, Lina led the Year 13 students in an opening karakia, we attempted to locate the stars (it was a bit too cloudy to see them clearly), steam was released from the umu kohukohu whetu (pot of food to feed the stars), and there was a closing karakia and collective waiata. This followed the first Matariki noho of Year 13s as they stayed overnight at school, remembering loved ones, looking forward, and celebrating each other. Mānawatia a Matariki.

I wish everyone a well-deserved break, plenty of time with friends and family, and time to reflect and recharge.

Ngā mihi,

Debbie Mitchell
debbie.mitchell@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

Scholars’ Assembly

Scholars’ Badges are presented to those students who earn, from Achievement Standards, at least 50 credits at Excellence level towards an NCEA certificate.

Presented by Ms Addison.

For NCEA Level 1 in 2025:

With 50 Excellence credits, Toby O’Leary
With 55 Excellence credits, Bella Coxson
With 61 Excellence credits, Joshua Farrand
With 65 Excellence credits, Jack Chamberlain
With 66 Excellence credits, Roma Shiltsov
With 70 Excellence credits, Mitchell Jenkins
With 71 Excellence credits, Yug Mundra
With 74 Excellence credits, Adelle Tipper
With 75 Excellence credits, Andoni Cole
With 75 Excellence credits, Chloe Shi
With 76 Excellence credits, Jed Sexton
With 78 Excellence credits, Gabriel Chionh

For NCEA Level 2 in 2025:

With 51 Excellence credits, Sienna Bourke
With 53 Excellence credits, Gal Becher
With 61 Excellence credits, Emily De Munnik
With 62 Excellence credits, Alia O'Shaughnessy
With 65 Excellence credits, Evie Haughton
With 65 Excellence credits, Sam Muirhead
With 66 Excellence credits, Zara Chambers

For NCEA Level 3 in 2025

With 53 Excellence credits, Lucy Bain
With 55 Excellence credits, Olivia Kilford
With 59 Excellence credits, Xavier Braga
With 59 Excellence credits, Luka O’Hara

Whitby Collegiate Academic Colours are presented to those students with an exceptionally impressive number of Excellence credits.

Presented by Cassidy Abbot (Alumnus 2021 and keynote speaker).

For NCEA Level 1 in 2025, we present Colours to those NCEA Level 1 students with over 80 Excellence credits:

With 80 Excellence credits, and Excellence endorsement in L1 Science, English, Mathematics, and Commerce, Archie Lowe
With 80 Excellence credits, and Excellence endorsement in L1 Science and English, Isabela McLean
With 81 Excellence credits, and Excellence endorsement in L1 Science, Mathematics, Commerce, and Design and Visual Communication, Colin Orpilla

For NCEA Level 2 in 2025, we recognise with Colours, students who earned more than 70 Excellence credits:

With 80 Excellence credits, and Excellence endorsement in L2 History, Chemistry, and Physics, Tiyamika Banda
With 89 Excellence credits, and Excellence endorsement in L2 English, Music, and Spanish, Leo Gore
With 95 Excellence credits, and Excellence endorsement in L2 History, Physics, Biology, and English, La’ie Nimarota Vatuvei

Whitby Collegiate acknowledges with Colours those who completed NCEA Level 3 last year with more than 60 Excellence credits.

For NCEA Level 3 in 2025:

With 57 Excellence credits from the 2025 academic year, and totalling 78 L3 Excellence credits overall, and Excellence endorsements in L3 Digital Technology and English, Yogesh Gavini
With 64 Excellence credits, and Excellence endorsement in L3 Physical Education, Anton Bain
With 74 Excellence credits from the 2025 academic year, and totalling 104 Excellence credits overall, and Excellence endorsements in L3 English, Chemistry, and Digital Technology, Siddhesh Kalyanasundaram
With 80 Excellence credits, and Excellence endorsements in L3 Calculus, and Physics, Ben Reichenvater
With 80 Excellence credits from the 2025 academic year, and totalling 93 Excellence credits overall, and Excellence endorsements in L3 Statistics, and Business Studies, Ishaan Badiyani
With 89 Excellence credits from the 2025 academic year, and totalling 107 Excellence credits overall, and Excellence endorsements in L3 English, and Commerce, Garv Arora
With 100 Excellence credits from the 2025 academic year, and totalling 103 Excellence credits overall, and Excellence endorsements in L3 English, Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, our 2025 John Fiso Dux of School, Ashleigh Gore
With 105 Excellence credits from the 2025 academic year, and totalling an impressive 149 Excellence credits overall, and Excellence endorsements in L3 Digital Technology, Chemistry, English, Physics, Statistics, Calculus, and Biology, our 2025 Tony Hanning Proxime Accessit, Conor Sellar

Students who earn more than 100 Excellence credits in one academic year will join our 100 Club, in addition to receiving Academic Colours.

Last year’s inductees to the 100 Club were Ashleigh Gore and Conor Sellar, both of whom also reached the same outstanding threshold last year.

With an outstanding 111 Excellence credits in 2025, and an overall total of 126 Excellence credits contributing to her NCEA Level 1 qualification, and Excellence endorsements in L1 Science, Digital Technology, Commerce, Geography, Mathematics, Health, and L2 Mathematics, Louisa Egley-Turner.

Whitby Collegiate is very proud of our New Zealand Scholarship recipients from 2025. We recognise alumni:

Ishaan Badiyani - English
Conor Sellar - Calculus
Caelan Taylor - Technology
Ashleigh Gore - Biology / Calculus / Chemistry / Physics

Deputy Principal (Pastoral and Wellbeing)

Talofa lava, Vanakkam, Mālō e lelei, Ni Hao, Tāloha ni, and Tēnā koutou e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,

Well done everyone, on making it to the end of what has been an incredibly busy, eventful, and at times, trying term. If I’m being honest, what kept me optimistic and gave me just enough fuel to get to the finish line was watching our student leaders show up day after day consistently encouraging and lifting each other up through challenging times, while still pouring their energy into creating memorable experiences for our juniors, has been incredibly inspiring.

A huge, special thank you goes out to our Prefect team, and especially to Emily De Munnik and Lachlan Dyhrberg for leading the Big Bonanza last Wednesday. It was a fantastic afternoon of team-building, bonding, and hilarious games (including a smoothie challenge that our staff bravely took part in), followed by a wonderful evening connecting over dinner. It was also fantastic to see our Year 12 helpers step up to support the Prefects and help run the activities. Knowing that junior students were emailing me after 9 pm that night just to say how much they loved the event and to thank the senior leaders truly speaks volumes. Here’s some feedback from our junior students:

"The Big Bonanza was so much fun! We got to choose our own groups, and I was in Group 1. Our first rotation was sports, where we did tug-of-war and a three-legged race. Next, my group moved on to the smoothie challenge. My smoothie was so gross, it had sardines, bananas with the peel still on, and some other really 'interesting' ingredients! But out of the four rotations we did, my absolute favourite was the Escape Room. We had to find a hidden portrait in a museum, pass through lasers, and hunt for clues. It was so enjoyable and I really loved it! A huge thank you to the seniors, Ms. Sauvao, and all the teachers for organising such an amazing event." Alina Babko (Year 8)

"Wednesday's Big Bonanza was such an amazing event to be part of! My highlight was the escape room, the spooky music and mind-twisting challenges were so cool. I think all the student leaders did an amazing job! Thanks so much to everybody who made this afternoon possible, especially Ms. Sauvao, Mr. Atkinson, and Mr. Wilson for giving up their time to supervise all the activities!" Yiqi Liang (Year 8)

It was also an absolute pleasure to welcome back past students Olivia Kilford, Lucy Bain, Ashleigh Gore, and Caelan Taylor for our Scholars’ Assembly. These are individuals who led our school with a genuine passion for wellbeing and uplifting others. During their time here, they were always looking for ways to boost school spirit and protect the unique culture of kindness, compassion, and care that we have at Whitby Collegiate. They were phenomenal role models, and their legacy has equipped this year’s leaders with the tools to carry that torch forward.

Our faith-based values will always be the foundation of many of our students' personal growth. I am grateful to our current student leaders for their servant hearts and for inspiring the rest of our school to live out those values every single day. At the end of such a demanding term, this is exactly the time when those values matter most, allowing us to take a deep breath, find gratitude for the opportunities we have to lift others up, and feel genuinely proud of what we have achieved together within our special community.

Finally, an important part of what makes Whitby Collegiate so unique is the support of our families, and particularly our Parents’ Association. They consistently work behind the scenes to make our school events truly meaningful and memorable. A special thank you to Sharon Duckett and Sue Payne for their wonderful leadership, and to every member of the Parents’ Association who steps up time and time again to bring these events to life. Thank you also to the many parents who have generously given up their time to coach or manage our sports teams this term. You help shape the rich experiences our students get to enjoy as part of school life. To all of our parents and caregivers, you are amazing, and you are very much appreciated. Thank you for your continued support, care, and partnership.

I look forward to seeing students and their families at our AIMS games Movie fundraiser, 'Moana' on Thursday July 23rd at the Lighthouse Cinema during the school holidays. I hope you all have a blessed, relaxing and safe holiday and I look forward to another eventful term ahead.

Fa’afetai tele lava ma ia manuia.

Ainslie Sauvao
ainslie.sauvao@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

School News

Art of the Week - Gestural Painting

Our talented Year 10 artists have been learning about gestural painting to express the dynamic movement and energy of the sea. Armed with palette knives they explored ways to be creative in their mark making and colour mixing to bring their waves truly alive.

Student Perspective

Upcoming Events

Key dates are located on the website calendar. Please check for your activities. Subscribe to the Whitby Collegiate calendar from the school website calendar page by clicking the button that reads “subscribe to this calendar”.

Grandparents’ Morning

We invite you to RSVP for our upcoming Grandparents Morning on Friday 14 August at 9:30am. This special occasion allows us to express our gratitude and appreciation for the support, love, and guidance our grandparents provide to our students.

RSVP link: https://form.jotform.com/261719158963873

Whitby Collegiate Foundation Gala Dinner

Save the date! The Whitby Collegiate Foundation's annual Gala Dinner is back on Friday 25 September, 2026, at The Wellington Club.

More details to come, mark your calendars now.

Holiday Programmes

3D Design & Modelling

Tuesday 7th – Thursday 9th July

Got a wild idea for a character? Let's bring it to life! Join us for a hands-on three-day programme where creativity meets technology.

Year 6–8 students, all experience levels welcome
Create digital objects, environments, and imaginative worlds
Use tools inspired by real designers, architects, and game developers
9am–3pm | $250 per person | Whitby Collegiate

Please note: students are kindly asked to bring their own laptop and lunch

[Sign Up Now]

Animation & Design with Rive

Monday 13th – Wednesday 15th July

Bring your ideas to life with Rive — a professional animation tool used in games, apps, and websites worldwide!

Year 6–8 students, all experience levels welcome
Design moving characters, interactive graphics, and animated stories
Hands-on challenges and creative projects all three days
9am–3pm | $250 per person | Whitby Collegiate

Please note: Students are kindly asked to bring their own laptop and lunch

[Sign Up Now]

Sports Update

For all sports information and registrations visit our online sports hub here. Join the Whitby Collegiate Sport Facebook Group to keep up to date with all sport news and achievements.

Student Achievements

We love to celebrate our students’ achievements. For inclusion in the Whitby Collegiate newsletter or on our Facebook page, please submit via the button below or email communications@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

Community Notice

Support Our Futsal & Netball Team!

The Whitby Collegiate Futsal and Netball teams are hosting a fundraiser screening of Disney's Moana at Lighthouse Cinema, Pāuatahanui, on Thursday 23 July at 5.45pm.

Tickets are $20 and include a raffle entry, with all proceeds going towards the teams' costs for the AIMS Games. There will also be raffle prizes, lolly bags, baking, and drinks available on the night — please bring cash.

Whānau, students, and friends are all welcome. It's a great chance to support our teams while enjoying a family movie night out.

To book tickets, scan the QR code on the event poster or email wcaimsgames@gmail.com.

School Notice

Important: Head Lice Check

We have had a few reports of head lice in our community recently. To help keep them at bay, we are asking all families to please take some time over the school holidays to carefully check their children's hair, and treat if necessary.

Head lice are very common and easily spread, but the holidays provide the perfect opportunity for everyone to check, treat, and break the cycle before returning to school.

For helpful, step-by-step guidance on how to check for head lice and the best ways to treat them, please visit the KidsHealth website here:

KidsHealth Head Lice Guide

Important: How to Reach Us by Email

Please note that emails ending in “school.kiwi” are sent from our student management system, KAMAR. These are used for school communications and absence notifications and have limited functionality, as KAMAR isn’t designed to be a primary email system.

You’re welcome to reply to these emails; however, new emails sent directly to a “school.kiwi” address won’t be received. Forwarded messages and attachments also won’t come through.

To ensure your message reaches us, please use staff email addresses ending in @whitbycollegiate.school.nz

A Reminder About Car Parking

A friendly reminder to all whānau, please ensure you are not parking in the staff car park when dropping off or picking up your children. The staff car park is reserved exclusively for our teachers and staff. Your co-operation helps keep our school running smoothly and ensures our staff can get to their classrooms on time.

Thank you for your understanding and support.